inability

/ˌɪnəˈbɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnəˈbɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē/ (ame, mw)

inability — 名詞

1. the condition of not having the skill, strength, or opportunity needed to do som

1.名詞B2
釋義

無能；無法

缺乏能力或方法做某事

the condition of not having the skill, strength, or opportunity needed to do something

例句

Adina's inability to swim kept her away from the beach trips with her classmates.

Adina 不會游泳，因此無法和同學一起去海灘玩。

noun + to-infinitive pattern

Pedro felt frustrated by his inability to fix the leaky kitchen tap.

Pedro 因為修不好廚房漏水的水龍頭而感到沮喪。

collocation: inability to [do something]

同義詞
  • incapacity

    more formal; often implies a legal or official lack of power

  • incompetence

    stronger negative judgment; suggests a blameworthy lack of skill

  • powerlessness

    focuses on lack of authority or control rather than skill

反義詞
  • ability

    direct opposite — having the skill or means to do something

  • capability

    similar to ability, emphasises potential or capacity

文法句型

inability + to-infinitive

用法筆記

A more formal alternative to 'not being able to'. The noun is uncountable and is almost always followed by a to-infinitive ('inability to do something'), not by 'of + -ing'.

常見錯誤

❌His inability of finishing the project worried the team.
✅His inability to finish the project worried the team.
💡'inability' takes a to-infinitive, not 'of + -ing'.
❌She has an inability to lie.
✅She is unable to lie.
💡'inability' is uncountable and not usually used with 'a/an'.